Does anyone have any idea what might be going on with these Bony Bream?This is the third time I have noticed the occasional dead one floating around the dam, in as many months, it is unusual to see any dead fish at all? I don't go there often, so I don't know how long this has been going on.They are a pest species anyway, so I am told, but many locals tell me the bass here thrive on eating them, one of the reasons the bass reach a good size here, not that I'd know from experience. Some died within a day, some probably a week ago? (by the smell)I just hope that whatever is effecting them isn't hurting the rest of the dam's ecology?I haven't seen any floating remains of any other species.There should be some pics with this if I get it right?They all seem to have quite a crop of fungus around some sort of wound, always in the same place,always on one side, in a line, sometimes the other side as well, some lesion evident in the center in a verticle line. the fungus actually has colour in it, like algea, but that could be dirty water, and very thick.There is no other irregularity on them at all.It's a strange spot for a wound if they have been stuck in traps or nets?If it is damage from boat props, it would be in random areas wouldn't it?Paddling from one side to the other I saw about 8, on the downwind side, so on the laws of average if i saw that many with limited view from sitting in my kayak, logically there must be quite a few?

Interesting, pics seem to show different stages, looks like it starts at the vent and then progresses upwards.Due to the lesion forming more likely to be bacterial than fungal IMO.Bony's feed on many different microrganisms as well as detritus, could be something they ate.

cheersSteve

Member

Plenty of them dying here and there, and you could see that there were some swimming in the immense schools of them with fungus on them. Not all the dead ones had fungus. I dont know if the togas are whacking them or not, but they dont always eat the dead ones off the top, in fact I've never seen it.

10 years ago, there were none seen in there. makes you wonder how they got in there... The Toga dont seem to swirl as much now.

Had some Boonah locals tell me that years ago that was the spot they all went to run nets for spangled perch and bony bream to be used as crab bait. Suspect those few saratoga stocked years ago might have met a similar fate; nets don't discriminate.

Saratoga are also highly susecptable to chemicals. Any sort of chemical run off from catchment farms in years gone by could easy have wiped them.